FICO Credit Score | How To Fix | WSJ/Yahoo! Finance

Be sure to check-out the end of this article for tips on how to improve your credit score (and what things you should not do). An especially helpful article if you're about to shop for credit - see the section about moving fast to secure a loan once you start shopping around for rates.

Green Acres II | Lawn to Farm | WSJ.com

From bluegrass to butterbeans. Is this the transformation of the American lawn? With high food prices and looming peak water, this may make sense. Beware of the HOA enforcers, though. They may insist on the bluegrass. See the article.

Money for Nothing | Search Benefits Charities | WSJ

The article itself isn't available on public search but this site has posted it verbatim. Another opportunity to benefit charities @ no cost.

Jonathan Clements | Personal Finance - After 1,008 Columns | WSJ.com

I've enjoyed this WSJ writer for many years ... here is his last article.

Pew Social & Demographic Trends | Inside the Middle Class | Bad Times Hit the Good Life

An insightful if not uplifting report from the Pew Research Center. The American Middle Class has been on the ropes for awhile and this poll highlights many of the issues.

Trip to Oregon

Enjoyed a great road trip to Oregon with stops in Eugene and Portland. Here's Mt. Shasta from I-5 northbound north of Redding CA
Area around Eugene is truly the Emerald Valley - spectacular. Below is a covered bridge along the McKenzie River east of Eugene.
Check-out the moss on the trees along US 20 east of Sweet HomeThe Willamette Valley is lush ... we were a bit early for the tulip festival.
More than one way to get around in Portland - the tram to OHSU.
Nearly the only sunbreak we had in Portland ...
From Old Town towards the Steel Bridge ...
A great trip ... enjoyed Portland and Eugene both ...

Financials | $$ Hard to Sell in Amsterdam | Reuters

I'm glad we're vacationing in Oregon this year and not in Europe. Not a fun time to be traveling abroad with dollars. Article.

Investing | The Cost of Active Investing | Dartmouth

Active or passive investing? Check this research study on the costs of being an active investor.

Hungry? | Sandwiches & Stands in LA | Eye Spy

I'm hungry just reading about these places ... enjoy the blog

Economics | Mortgage Market Meltdown | Brandeis

Detailed research paper on the current mortgage market meltdown. Must reading for full understanding. Research paper.

Education | In L.A., his own wall of China | LA Times

Counterpoint to the below posting on education in Finland. The challenges to education in LA are sobering. Article

Education | What Makes Finnish Kids So Smart? | WSJ.com

Finland's teenagers score among the highest in the world. Guess what - they have iPods and pink hair and watch TV; there's neither school uniforms nor standardized testing. Finland spends less per student than the US (on average). Why do they do so well? The answers are both simple to state and complicated to implement. Article

Obama | The Power of Words | WSJ.com

A compelling discussion of the power of words in leadership - and a, to me, startling comparison. Article.

Kedrosky Recommends | Frontline: secret history of the credit card | PBS

A Visa IPO could be the biggest in US history. For more about the credit card industry, check-out this show.

Need Higher Social Security? | Reapply! | Burns/AssetBuilder

Many folks applied for early Social Security and regret taking the much-reduced benefit. There's a way out - with a catch. See the article.

Two Interesting Articles | Wired

Anti-terrorist Mom. Record-breaking cross-country drive.

Telecommuters | Unintended Consequences | WSJ

interesting and somewhat different take on unintended consequences from high % telecommuters in an org ... a quick read ...

Face value | The accidental innovator | Economist.com

a fascinating read about a different way of thinking by this silicon valley entrepreneur

Suburbs | The Next Slum? | Atlantic

A compelling discussion of a sea change that may be approaching in American residential real estate. Rejecting the isolated suburban neighborhood cul-de-sac model. Embracing the walkable neighborhood where homes are diffused into a mix of retail and business. That gallon of milk purchase would no longer need a drive to the store. Article

How to tell if your boat is too small

Commerce vs Individual | Big Retail Chains | WSJ.com

Legislators may have gone overboard giving rights to retailers to recover losses from alleged shoplifting. Note the word alleged. The retailers are using threats of lawsuits to extract damages from individuals who have or MAY have taken merchandise. Seems like a subversion of the legal system to me. Article

Gen M | Suburban Jobs - Subpar? | MarketWatch/WSJ

Jobs in the City vs the Suburb - how Gen M weighs the trade-offs. Article

Graphic | Market's 50 years | FORTUNE Mag

Good integration of multiple information streams in one graphic.

12 People Changing Retirement | WSJ.com

I find a lot of encouraging and forward-thinking ideas in this article - there's much to be done ... and great talent to work it. What will you tackle?

Alt- View | College - Waste of Time/Money | FT

Here's a counter view to sending the kids to college (at least starting at age 18). Draw your own conclusions ... there are some interesting points made.

Something to Read | Best of 2007 | The Economist

Lots of choice here. Beatrix Potter to Gertrude Stein. 1967 Israel to Byzantium. Harry Potter and Nuclear Arms. I'm sure you'll find something interesting.

Prime the Pump! | Tax Rebate Explained! | LA Times

Don't spend it all in one place. Ummm ... or maybe you should? Here's the skinny on your tax rebate, courtesy of Uncle Sam's Economic Stimulation Package & Digestive Aid.

Housing Bubble | More to Come? | LATimes

Beyond the current sub-prime mess ... and, by the way, lots more sub-prime and low-documentation mortgages reset in 2008, so that debacle isn't over by far ... is the next potential hit.

The Boomers' impact on US economics/politics/society to-date is well-known. Take a look at this article about the potential next hit on housing prices by Boomers cashing-out or trading-down. All real estate economics is local ... how will your house fare?

Retiring Abroad | May Not Be Paradise | WSJ

Thinking of that inexpensive beach hacienda in Central America? There are some unique challenges to retiring abroad. See the WSJ article

Two Smart, Driven Women | Two Paths | WSJ

One woman went from model citizen to model prisoner. A fascinating story about finding one's connection in the wrong person, the wrong place. Read it here. The other story is more inspiring and more tragic at the same time. Here's Jeanette's obit and here.